Steubenville Catholic defeats Strasburg 59-40

Steubenville Catholic shot 66 percent in rolling to a 59-40 Division IV sectional tournament victory. The winners made only 3 of 9 shots in the first eight minutes before heating up.

By Dave Whitmer

Times Reporter

By Dave Whitmer

Posted Feb. 28, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Feb 28, 2013 at 10:49 AM

By Dave Whitmer

Posted Feb. 28, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Feb 28, 2013 at 10:49 AM

NEW PHILADELPHIA

This was one basketball game where the first quarter definitely did not tell the story.

Strasburg committed only one turnover and held a 9-6 lead over Steubenville Catholic Central after one period Wednesday night. But the Tigers totaled 17 turnovers during the last three quarters and shot just 33 percent from the field for the game.

Steubenville Catholic shot 66 percent in rolling to a 59-40 Division IV sectional tournament victory. The winners made only 3 of 9 shots in the first eight minutes before heating up.

The Crusaders (15-5) now will meet Malvern in the lower-bracket sectional final Saturday at 1 p.m. That victor moves on to the district semifinals Tuesday at the New Philadelphia High gym.

Strasburg’s last lead was 15-11 at the 5:16 mark of the second quarter. Steubenville Catholic ended that period on a 15-6 run to claim a 26-21 halftime advantage.

The Tigers stayed within striking distance until midway through the third stanza, when the Crusaders went from seven up to an 11-point lead entering the final frame.

It was all Steubenville in the fourth quarter as the sparse crowd began heading to the exits.